Downed power lines from nor'easter blamed

Nov. 14, 2012

A Jackson real estate office sustained heavy damage in a blaze which destroyed most of its first floor, fire officials said. Downed power lines from last week's nor'easter has been given as a possibility for the fire. / Photo courtesy of Jackson Fire District 3

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A Jackson real estate office sustained heavy damage in a blaze which destroyed most of its first floor, fire officials said. / Photo courtesy of Scott Conover

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JACKSON — A township real estate office sustained heavy damage in a blaze which destroyed most of its first floor, fire officials said.

The fire that damaged the Coldwell Banker Real Estate office at 2052 W. County Line Road Thursday was caused by power lines which were downed by the region’s recent nor’easter. There were no injuries in the accidental blaze, which started because of an overload into the electrical system from the downed power lines, said Mike Waters, assistant chief of Jackson Fire District Three, in a statement.

Jackson firefighters found flames shooting out of the front and side wall windows of the office after it was called in just before 6 a.m. Thursday. The office’s live electrical service wires also were lying on the ground, Waters said.

Most of the one-story section of the office was destroyed. The two-story section was saved, but still sustained significant smoke and heat damage, Waters said.

The Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire and determined it was accidental, Waters said.